Pre-Raphaelitism and the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood . children in positions impossible for babies tokeep, the work demanded intense perseverance and the house with the large studio being built for meby a German was still unfinished, I was not able to bringmy work on the children to a complete stage. Immedi-ately the studio was apparently ready, I took possession,glad at having for the first time a proper working rains were late this year, and until these should comeI had held back 200 Napoleons of the final sum to be paidto the builder, but I listened to the pleas of his f
Pre-Raphaelitism and the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood . children in positions impossible for babies tokeep, the work demanded intense perseverance and the house with the large studio being built for meby a German was still unfinished, I was not able to bringmy work on the children to a complete stage. Immedi-ately the studio was apparently ready, I took possession,glad at having for the first time a proper working rains were late this year, and until these should comeI had held back 200 Napoleons of the final sum to be paidto the builder, but I listened to the pleas of his friends. XII PRE-RAPHAELITE BROTHERHOOD 325 and advanced the money with nothing but a renewedendorsement of his responsibihty for the weather-proofcharacter of the roof. When the rain did come the tilesand ceiling proved to be nothing but a sieve, and the waterentered, leaving pools all over the floor, while my canvasescould be protected only by tarpaulins ; this caused muchbother and delay before I could again set to work. ?->? _x ;/:il > ^^. MY DAUGHTER GLADYS. One morning I heard steps on the staircase, followedby knocking on my door ; when I opened it a grinningnegro boy was standing there. Affecting a tone of greatresponsibility, he inquired whether a visit from the ladiesof a neighbouring effendi would be convenient, theywanted to see the strange house. I sent back an invita-tion, and in a quarter of an hour I heard the shufflingsound of many feet ascending the ladder-stair to mystudio. I opened the door, and encountered a party ofabout a dozen ladies, the elder of whom, but little above 326 PRE-RAPHAELITISM AND THE chap. thirty, was the chief speaker. She explained with acertain reserved dignity, that they had watched withinterest the building of the house, and had wonderedat the unusual size of the saloon, and the purpose forwhich it would be used ; they hoped I would show themwhat I was doing in it. I explained that I had not yeta finished picture to show them, bu
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